by Michelle Spigner

 

"America's Next Top Model Is..."

 

On tonight's season finale of America's Next Top Model, it's down to the final four and the models are battling it out for the grand prize.

 

It is down to Angelea, Alexandra, Krista and Raina. All the girls are thrilled to have made it this far, but making it to the finale just makes them want the grand prize even more.

 

The girls are all hanging out in their apartment when Andre Leon Talley the judge from panel comes to visit them. He sits and has a heart to heat with the girls and tells them about his journey in the fashion industry. And how it really is working with designers other models magazines and the entire fashion industry.

 

That evening the girls receive a Tyra mail that instructs them to pack an overnight bag because they will be traveling for their next challenge. The next day the models get on a plane to Queenstown, New Zealand for their photo shoot. Before the girls can even get comfortable on the flight, Miss J's voice comes over the PA. He tells the girls to prepare themselves for a runway challenge down the plane aisle. Each girl has to walk down the plane aisle in a way that shows off her personality. The winner will walk in New Zealand's fashion week and win $2000 worth of designer jewelry.

 

Each model tries to make it playful and work their clothes, accessories and even pause to interact with other passengers The judges decide the Krista walked the best. And so the winner is Krista. Again! She has won best photo for the past three weeks as well as the last two challenges. Alexandra was right on her tail and is devastated she hasn't won.

Once they get to New Zealand the girls drive for an hour out into the New Zealand countryside. The landscape is absolutely stunning. For the photo shoot the girls will be balancing pretty and ugly. The landscape will be the pretty and so, the girls will be the ugly. And are the girls ugly. I mean black lipstick, extreme arched eyebrows, the whole thing. So the girls try their best to work it.

 

Then Jay drops another bomb on the girls. At the next judging half of the girls will be sent home. So they all know that they really have to step it up.

 

Krista pulls out stunning poses as always and Jay really pleased with her performance. Raina struggled bringing out her ugly side and show some new poses.  Angelea was lost; she didn't know how to capture what Jay was looking for. Alexandra was stuck on being too pretty as well but after a few shots really got into it.

The next day the girls meet with the judges. Here are their evaluations:

Raina- She was fixated on being pretty pretty. She didn't do much to pull her poses out of the box. She takes direction really well, but may not have the versatility.

Angelea- She was the most confused with the creative. But Tyra and Andre Leon Talley love the photo they like her haunting look. 

Krista- She almost posed like a man, which it made it perfectly ugly-pretty. Andre Leon Talley is almost to tears because the picture is so amazing. The judges also feel that Krista has consistently watched and learned and improved.

Alexandra- They find the photo quite interesting. It looks more like a still out of a film rather than a model shot. It's not their favorite photograph but they like it. She has one of the best plus size shapes they have seen in a while and think she is very bookable. However, they don't know what she is about.

They judges deliberate and call the girls back. The first finalist is Krista. So Angelea, Krista and Raina are all in the bottom three. Alexandra has an amazing body and beautiful face but her pictures have been very inconsistent. Raina has a great strong face but she has difficulty adapting to different types of photo shoots. Angelea has a great fashion face but they don't think she can take the rejection of the fashion industry.

Tyra calls Raina as the second semi-finalist. So it is Alexandra and Angelea who are sent home. 

Krista and Raina will be stomping to the death in an Anna Sui fashion show. They girls receive their next Tyra Mail that tells them to pack an overnight bag for their next challenge. The girls take a helicopter to their next shoot. The helicopter lands on a private estate called the Hurakia Lodge where they will be spending the night. But they aren't alone. Miss J is there and explains that they will be shooting their Cover Girl commercial right at the house the next day. The girls get their lines for the next day and stay up and study, study, study. They are both determined not to have to rely on cue cards.

 

The next day the girls take their Cover Girl still shot and shoot the commercial.  

Raina did a great job connecting through her eyes in the still photo shoot. For her commercial, she had her script down but she choreographed it a little too much. She was so focused she didn't allow her personality to come through. She had trouble delivering the lines and modeling at the same time.

Krista is determined not to forget a line, but still blanks out and needs the cue cards. Her photo shoot went a lot better and she worked to bring her high fashion sense into the commercial shoot. 

The next day the girls shoot their Seventeen Magazine cover. Both of the girls worked their fresh and fun looks. Nigel was impressed with both of their work that day.

They return home to find that their living room is set up like a photo studio. Tyra is there and explains that they will be shooting a family portrait with their own families. Krista's parents and Raina's Dad is there to visit to encourage them. 

The next day the girls arrive for their final runway challenge. And there are a few past models there to join them in the show: Angelea, Alasia, Alexandra and Jessica. This runway show is a little different because the focus isn't on being fierce but instead being fun and playful.

 

When the lights go down and the music started the girls turned it up for their last time to impress the judges. Krista tries to turn down her editorial edge in order to seem soft and sweet.  Raina works to show her personality and give a great walk. Tyra is impressed with both of their performances and the girls are both very proud of themselves.

 

Later, the girls go to their final panel to meet with the judges.  Here are the girls' evaluations:

 

Krista- The judges thought Krista did a great job in the fashion show. She seemed real and could pull off something that is very light and airy, although a little cheesy. Her Cover Girl picture was beautiful but she was not connecting with the camera. Krista forgot her lines but she looked great and worked the camera well. 

Raina- The judges thought she walked like a real model and she brought freshness and happiness. Her Cover Girl shoot was very gentle and fresh. They wanted her to have some more twinkle. In the commercial, Raina forgot about her face a bit and her charm and personality didn't really come through. 

The judges think that both girls have remarkably interesting features and beauty. They are each amazing but have certain strengths. The judges think Krista is a better body model and Raina works her face better. They believe that Krista is a more bookable model for runway shows and Raina is more bookable for editorials. They both bring something fantastic to the table.

 

Tyra calls the girls back and announces the winner.

AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL IS.......KRISTA!!! After trying out for 12 cycles she finally made it.

 

Until next cycle. Pose... Strike it.

 

 

(Image courtesy of the CW)

 

 

For more America's Next Top Model Links visit Sirlinksalot.net